HEAVY SEAS AT OAMARU.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15699, 19 September 1916, Page 3

HEAVY SEAS AT OAMARU.

SERIOUS erosion! OAMARU, September 16. Every heavy sea that has rolled into the bay from, the eouth-east has caused some damage to the foreshore, and on occasions the erosion has been of a serious nature. In order to arrest this destruction by tho sea the corporation put in an apron of largo stones to break tho force of the waves jn the neighbourhood of tho municipal gasworks, which were being brought into a position' of jeopardy. . A similar precaution was ; taken by the Railway Department on tho sea front of the station yard, and further along, beyond the town boundary, the directors of the Oamaru Woollen Factory Company erected a costly breastwork to protect the factory ground from encroachment by the waves. These measures proved fairly effectual until lately, -when they were greatly shattered by a heavy sea, and a good deal of erosion was caused. When, therefore,' an exceptionally heavy sea was experienced yesterday, tho great waves met with littlo resistance. They dashed against the bank with tremendous force, and cut away a large slice of land. The erosion opposite the railway station was very considerable, and it has been made clear that more efficient protection will have to be adopted, otherwise tho railway station yard will be gradually and surely eaten away. At the Woollen Factory the position is even worse, some of 'the buildings being placed in serious jeopardy. The frontage to the sea, which formerly gave room for- a broad road and an esplanade beyond that, has been cut away by successive inroads, until there now remains only i few feet between some of th© factory buildings and the crumbling bank. Fortunately the «ea storm has abated tolay, and danger of further immediate erosion has been removed. But a great • nnd expensive work will have to be undertaken promptly to prevent, if possible, the occurrence of damage of a very serious nature.